enuitschamp2004

NUITS DE CHAMPAGNE – 2004

Press conference
11th June 2004

At 3 pm this Friday in the month of June, the sun shone over the Espace Argence and those who were invited sparkled. Maurane, Daniel Lavoie and Michel Fugain, those people in charge of the Nuits de Champagne, from the town of Troyes, from its urban area and from the region around, prepared to launch officially (and to the media) the 17th festival under a Francophone banner.

After a lively introduction and without ceremony, the president of the Nuits de Champagne, Yann Gaillard and Pierre-Marie Boccard, deputy leader, got to the heart of the matter of how the idea came to them one day for this 2004 triple bill, of which Jean-Michel Boris, artistic advisor, explained whilst he was at it, that he straightaway put it under the banner of "friendship and affection".

This was immediately confirmed by Maurane, bathed in smiles, admitting a bit of a liking for champagne and confiding in us how the distinguishing title of this year's festival was born. "Boire dans le même rêve" stemmed from a slip-up made by one of her friends who, having mislaid her goblet, suggested drinking from a shared glass!

Then it was time for Daniel Lavoie to speak, with a relaxed charm recalling in particular, the beginnings of his friendship with Maurane in 1979 when they formed a duo of choristers called "The Fabulous Waffles".

Between two jokes, Michel Fugain recalled an amazing remembrance, which he was still unable to forget, of the first Nuits de Champagne in 1987 to which he was invited, "a week of singing and considerable energy" which had caused him to lose his voice!

Jean-Michel Boris took the microphone again to present the programme (of which three concerts will be held outside the city centre): well-known and well-established artistes (Cesaria Evora, Louis Chédid, Anne Sylvestre …) artistes with established talents (M, Allain Leprest …) some young ones who are just getting known (Cali, Laurent Viel, Jeanne Cherhal …) and the forthcoming triple line-up on the Thursday: our "Three drinkers of the dream" in joint concert, of which the songs and the musicians have still not been decided upon but, at the right time, Maurane declared, in deepest confidence, "We are people of one heart, we love each other. That's obvious."

And the heavens, which were equally obvious, didn't succeed in cooling down the warm atmosphere which continued all day in a certain room in the Espace Argence, and which lasted throughout the interviews which followed.

The Programme of the Nuits de Champagne 2004 (correct at going to press).

Song: Maurane, Daniel Lavoie, Corneille, M, Louis Chédid, Anne Sylvestre, Allain Leprest, Olivia Ruez, Jeanne Cherhal, Cali, Chanson Plus, Enzo Enzo, Pierre (Souchon), Monsieur Poli, Laurent Viel.
Song-Jazz: Maurice Vander-Eddy, Louiss-Bernard Lubat, Luigi Trussardi (Tribute to Nougaro):
The French
speaking world: Philippe Lafontaine (Belgium) Louise Forestier (Québec), Jorane (Québec), Suroit (Celtic-Acadia – Canada's eastern Maritime Provinces).
World music: Marcio Faraco (Brazil), Cesaria Evora (Cape Verde Islands), Vincente Amigo (Spain).
First Production: "Boire dans la même rêve", Maurane, Michel Fugain, Daniel Lavoie and their guests.
Polyphonic
Production: 900 choristers sing the works of Maurane, Michel Fugain and Daniel Lavoie.

The trio from the French speaking world invite us to "Drink in their dream".

Symbolically, "to drink in the same dream", it's to have with Daniel and Michel some natural affinities and the things which come from the heart, and to share …"
Maurane.

"Now we share a closeness which today includes the writing of songs".
Daniel Lavoie.

His interview is attached following this item.

"Today, I've very happy to take part in this festival with an amazing friend whom I cannot get out of my mind … and Daniel who is a man of immense talent with whom I always meet up again with boundless pleasure. I'm waiting for this big moment with a smile and longing …"
Michel Fugain.

"It's the friendship which is the foundation of this festival and I think that the contributions of each one of them will make for an original festival".
Jean-Michel Boris, artistic director of the festival.

"Thanks to the Nuits de Champagne, the town of Troyes is very proud to welcome Maurane, Michel Fugain and Daniel Lavoie for what they are doing, that's to say, a joie de vivre, an affection which they are going to share with us".
François Baroin, Deputy Mayor of Troyes.